Abstract

GUTIERREZ-LEYVA, Ranferi et al. Nutritional evaluation of seaweed Macrocystis pyrifera AS feed additive for juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Abanico vet [online]. 2015, vol.5, n.1, pp.26-34. ISSN 2448-6132.

Seaweeds have been evaluated as feed ingredients or additives for aquatic organisms with positive results on growth performance and disease resistance. To evaluate the response of growth and feed utilization using a seaweed liquid extract (KelproidanMR), obtained from Macrocystis pyrifera as a feed additive 4% inclusion (K4%) in balanced feed (33.6% protein and 7.3% lipids) for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei, a 45 days growth bioassay, under controlled conditions was conducted. Compared to the control treatment, the results indicate that the inclusion of KelproidanMR did not affect the zootechnical parameters of survival, growth, feed intake nor the feeding response of shrimp. In terms of feed utilization, K4% treatment significantly improved feed conversion rate, and protein efficiency (P<0.05). It was also revealed that KelproidanMR allowed two different responses in proximate composition of shrimp muscle, first increased protein content and otherwise decreased lipid content (P<0.05). In conclusion, KelproidanMR could be used as a feed additive for juvenile L. vannamei.

Keywords : Whiteleg shrimp; balanced feed; growth; Kelproidan^MR.